Alec and Spyro book 5 Chapter 13

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~Chapter 13~
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“Jade, come to us,” Void instructed.

“We have a mission for you,” X said to the crystal dragoness.

The crystal dragoness walked out of the shadows. This dragoness looked nearly identical to Flashwing, with the exceptions of the color of the crystalline formations on her body. Where Flashwing had violet colored crystals, this dragoness had dark green crystals with eyes to match, “What is my mission?” The crystal dragoness asked.

“You are to go to Warfang and retrieve Drobot,” X said, “You are to use any means necessary to obtain success.”

“Understood,” the crystal dragoness confirmed. Then she left to achieve her mission.

“I hope Jade is successful,” X said, “After all, she doesn't have the assistance of that tech armor or lightcore power.”

“Perhaps not,” Void said, “But she does have the assistance of my power to help her. If she needs to fight, she will be a force to be reckoned with.”

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I had spent an entire day studying Drobot's technology. There were several alterations to the original technology, But it was definitely inspired by my technology. But the question is…how is that possible?

“How did you say you and Drobo…Drogen developed this technology?” Alec asked Flashwing as they were checking through the tech armor.

“Well, the technology wasn't our own originally,” Flashwing said, “We developed it from a gold ring that was given to us by a ghostly white dragon. That same dragon is the one who betrayed us and turned Drogen into…into Drobot.”

“Did you say a gold ring?” Alec asked, receiving a nod from Flashwing. Alec then took a piece of paper and pen and drew his unique logo.

My unique logo was basically my initials, AW. However, the right edge of the A and the left edge of the W were merged together, making the A and W a single item.

“Did the ring you were given by any chance have this logo on it?” Alec asked as he held up the AW logo.

“I can't remember what it looked like. But I do remember seeing something on it,” Flashwing said, “Some kind of symbol like that.”

“When Cynder first came to the Human Realm, it was before my portal technology was perfected,” Alec explained.

I told Flashwing about Cynder's first visit to the Human Realm. I didn't know what it was, but I was enjoying telling the story to Flashwing.

“…Finally, I was able to figure out how to get Cynder back to the Dragon Realm,” Alec said, finishing his story, “But before she left, I chose to let her take a souvenir.”

X~     ~Flashback~     ~X

“Before you go, take this as a souvenir,” Alec said as he handed Cynder the invisibility device. Cynder put it on her wrist and gave Alec a hug, “Don't forget…there are still two others here who may like a hug.”

Cynder broke the hug with a grin before going over to give Pat and Trisha…and Snickers a hug. Then she went to stand in front of the portal, waiting in anticipation.

Alec nodded to Trisha, signaling to her that it was time to activate the portal. Trisha pushed a button…and nothing happened.

“I still have to activate the portal from this end too,” Alec explained as he push a button on his computer. Suddenly, the portal came to life. The image on Trisha's computer of Spyro and Mal, which previously appeared to be frozen in time, even though it was just moving slowly, was now moving. The vortex appeared and the power level of the camera in the Dragon Realm was draining quickly.

“Is the trip back as bad as the trip here?” Cynder asked.

“Yes,” Alec answered bluntly.

“Cynder? Are you okay? Wake up!” Spyro exclaimed on Trisha's screen.

“Hurry and go through,” Alec said, “The portal is loosing power quickly.”

Cynder then went through the vortex. After a few moments, the vortex dispersed as the power ran out. And the invisibility device dropped to the floor.

“She didn't take the invisibility device?” Trisha asked.

“Yes, she did,” Alec said, “But she has a doppelganger version of it. When it went through the portal, it created a copy, like the copy of my camera that's still in the Dragon Realms.”

X~     ~End Flashback~     ~X

“Cynder said that she didn't have the ring when she came through. And no matter how many times I've tried to figure it out, I couldn't come up with anything,” Alec explained to Flashwing, “But now that I think of it, I think I understand. Because the original portal technology only created a copy of anything that went through, the version of Cynder's body that was still in the Dragon Realm wasn't wearing the ring. So when she went through, the ring came through as a separate object. And that means that she might not have noticed it. But that wouldn't explain why it wasn't there when the area was rechecked. So the white dragon you were talking about must've taken it.”

“Well, it's a good thing you knew how to deactivate the technology when you did,” Flashwing said, “Otherwise…”

“Please don't start thinking like that. Because if you start thinking like that, then I'm gonna start thinking like that. And I've already had enough of thinking like that…DAMNIT! Now I'm thinking about it!” Alec explained before taking a breath to calm down, “It's not really that I knew how to deactivate it, it's just that generally, my technology is built with a deactivation code built in. I'm just thankful that Drobot's armor was built like my technology so that I could deactivate it. Because otherwise…”

“Didn't you just tell me not to think about that?” Flashwing asked.

“Well, I'm only thinking like this because you were…” Alec then calmed down, “Let's not think about the 'what if' and just focus on the 'what is'. And what did happen is that we are alive now.”

“You're right. Even if it's just luck,” Flashwing said.

“Well, luck or not, we're alive because of it,” Alec said.

“So, can you take this armor off?” Flashwing asked.

“The original design of this armor was intended to create a telepathic link,” Alec explain, “But it seems that the circuitry was hardwired to Drogen's brain later on. That must be what those dragons were doing. As for if I can disconnect the technology, I'll have to study it more.”

As I studied the neural links, I realized that the circuitry of the armor was not just hardwired to Drogen's brain. It was also hooked up to his spinal chord and nervous system. I was fascinated by how the circuitry was wired. It would allow him to feel his wings, even though they are only artificial. However, the downside to how the circuitry was hardwired to his nervous system wasn't as uplifting.

Alec turned to Flashwing, who had not moved the entire time, “Normally this would be where I would say I have some good new and some bad news,” Alec said, “But there-

“-There's no good news,” Flashwing said, finishing Alec's sentence.

The look on Flashwing's face was heartbreaking. I haven't even told her the bad news yet and she was already down.

“The circuitry is hardwired directly to Drogen's nervous system,” Alec explained, “If I were to removed the armor, it would kill him. And the circuitry is directly connected to the conscious part of his brain. So his free will has been removed as well. So whether I removed the armor or not, the dragon you knew as Drogen is gone.”

Flashwing sighed as she thought about the situation. Finally, she came to a decision, “Take off the armor,” Flashwing said hesitantly, “I think it's only fair that Drogen is allowed to die. The alternative is that he be a slave…a prisoner in his own mind.”

“I understand,” Alec said sympathetically, “It's better to die on your own terms than to live and not have any control over your own life.”

I reluctantly began t-

“AHHHH!!!”

Seriously…?

Everyone went into the other room to see what was wrong. That's when everyone saw Cynder, who was now awake, and seemingly scared and confused.

“Cynder, what's wrong?” Spyro asked as he went over to her.

“Cynder? No, I'm not…” Cynder said, stopping mid-sentence, “But I am…What's going on?!”

“I figure this is the side affect of two identities trying to inhabit one consciousness,” Alec explained, “You're reaction is most likely from Fog's mind, a mind of a child who's scared and confused about what's happening. Try to focus on Cynder's mind and calm yourself. Then focus on Cynder's memories to remember what happened.”

Cynder closed her eyes and calmed down. Then she had the chance to focus, “That's right. You transferred Fog's soul into my body,” Cynder said, “Wait, you put me in Cynder's body?!”

I'm sure that Cynder's reaction would've confused most others. But I understand what was happening. Basically, the first part of that was Cynder speaking, and the second part was Fog. But the two sets of memories were confusing her…or rather, them.

“I want to try something out,” Alec said, “When was the first time you met me?”

“It was in a cave, when you help to save me and several other's,” Cynder said.

“Am I right that you also have memories to another first meeting?” Alec asked.

Cynder thought for a moment, “That was the first time you met me…well, Fog,” Cynder said, “The first time you met Cynder was in the Valley of Avalar when I…Cynder met you. Me and Spyro didn't know what you were because you were in your human form.”

I understand why she's so confused. She's having trouble even knowing what identity she is.

Cynder then giggled. Of course the childlike sense from the giggle implied that it came from Fog, “When you and Cynder first met, Cynder and Spyro tied you up and dragged you with them?”

The others then began to laugh at Alec's expense.

Yeah, this was definitely Fog at the moment. Even when she doesn't have her own body, she tends to be a trouble maker.

“Well, at least I know that my technique worked and that you're okay…both of you,” Alec said, “The downfall to this is the confusion. You might feel a bit awkward if you see you're…Cynder's kids. Especially Iggy.”

A blush appeared on Cynder's cheeks at the mention of Iggy. Then she shook her head clear of thought like that when Cynder's mind remembered that he's her son.

“Well, once the new body I'm growing for you is finished growing, I can transfer Fog into the new body,” Alec said, “I hope.”

“How long will it take for it to finish?” Cynder (or was it Fog?) asked.

“A couple of weeks. Maybe a month,” Alec said, “I just hope that in that time, your minds won't become merged to a point where I can't separate you two.”

“Is that really an issue?” Cynder/Fog asked worried.

“Unlikely. The ability I used relies on your life forces. Not your minds,” Alec said.

Why'd I have to say that? Cynder and Fog's life forces are so alike that I might not be able to sense one from the other. Fog may end up keeping Cynder's body while Cynder ends up in Fog's new body.

…Actually, that sounds like it would make an entertaining fanfic.

“Well, at least I won't have to stay in this body forever,” Cynder said, “Hey! What's wrong with my body?!”

“We need to figure out a way for your two minds to have their own identities,” Alec said, “And I may have an idea. However, I'll have to go back the the Human Realm to make the device. And before that, I still have to deactivate Drobot.”

“You said you had an idea,” Flashwing said, “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I was thinking maybe I could create a device that could allow a neurological link up,” Alec said, “But rather than sending Fog's mind into another body, it would allow Fog's mind to focus on a holographic image. That way Fog can have her own holographic body, and Cynder can keep her own body.”

“So what you're saying is that Fog's mind will still be in Cynder, but will have a focal point to take her own form?” Flashwing asked, summing up what Alec said pretty well, “There must be some flaws to that though. I mean, since she's still in Cynder's body, if she tried to lift a paw, it may end up being Cynder's paw instead.”

It's impressing how much Flashwing understands logic that normally would only be exclusive to the Human Realm…I think. Knowing how the Dragon Realm works, I would figure the world might be able to magically find a way around that. Then again, perhaps physics in the Dragon Realm is more similar to physics in the Human Realm than I thought.

“You're right. It's not a perfect fix,” Alec said, “But it will help. And having a focal point for her mind will assist to avoid something like that.”

“One thing I've learned with Drogen is that technology will always have it's flaws, no matter how minor they are,” Flashwing said, “And my sister was a philosophical thinker. And one thing I've learned from her is that perfection is an impossibility.”

Well said!

Wait. Flashwing has a sister?

“I didn't know you had a sister,” Alec said.

“Well, how could you know? After all, what do you know about me?” Flashwing said. Then Alec shot a glance at her, causing her to remember about the Human Realm, “Oh…right. Well, she was my twin sister to be exact.”

“What do you mean she used to be your twin?” Spyro asked, “You can't just stop being a twin.”

“Well…she died,” Flashwing said solemnly, “It was about two years ago. She came down with a terminal illness that her immune system just couldn't fight. And it inevitably killed her.”

A twin sister who died of an illness? That sounds just like my cousin Kendle. She was one of two twins…as if I have to point out there are two twins. But Kendle also came down with a terminal illness. It was brain cancer.

“My cousin died of a terminal illness too,” Alec said, “She may not have been my sister, and I may not have been close with her. But I can try to understand how you must feel. My cousin's death was hard on my whole family. And I have a big family. And she also was a twin.”

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Thanks to the assisted power that Void lended to her, Jade had reached the Valley of Avalar faster than expected. And soon, Warfang would be visible to her.

“Drobot will soon return home,” Jade said as she looked down at a remote in her paw.